The Breeding Herd 405 
divided into two parts and the pigs alternated from one 
to the other. 
Clover will carry asomewhat larger number, because of its 
deeper rooting system and longer growing period. If the 
pasture is fairly large so that the area likely to be tramped 
excessively is a smaller proportion of the pasture, twelve 
to fifteen shotes or five or six mature dry sows may be 
run to an acre. 
Many experiments have been carried on to determine 
the amount of pork which can be produced from an acre of 
pastures, both with and without grain rations. It is 
obvious that no one test would be very wide in its ap- 
plication, nor would an average of these tests mean any 
more, especially when most of the gain is made from fhe 
grain rather than the pasture. It is safe to say, however, 
that reports of pastures paying $40.00 to $100.00 an acre 
when used for pigs are misleading, even when technically 
correct. The judicious use of pasture nearly always lowers 
the cost of gains as compared with any other system of 
feeding, but the saving is not usually very much in excess 
of a fair rental of the land. 
In selecting pasture, the points suggested by Evard in 
Iowa Bulletin 136 should be kept in mind. “An ideal 
forage for hogs should show: 1. Adaptability to local 
soil and climate; 2. palatability; 3. a heavy yield of 
digestible nutrients, being high in protein and mineral 
matter, especially calcium and phosphorus, and low in 
crude fiber; 4. succulence; 5. long pasturing season; 
6. ability to endure grazing; 7. permanency; 8. reason- 
able cost and ease of seeding; 9. capability of furnish- 
ing good pasture at any time during the growing season. 
These essentials are not found in any single forage, but 
alfalfa, the clovers, and rape have most of them.” 
